Wednesday Treasures

Something new has been added to "My Room  with a View"...

I am trying to improve on this mess:

(before)

There! That's a little bit better!!

(After)

This little nightstand was something that my son had for sale at Dixie Cottage. He decided to break up a set because this nightstand had different handles than the rest of the set and it didn't seem to be selling, so he decided to give it to me when I told him of my need for something to help me organize my "stuff" a little better in this room.  Little by little things are getting in better shape.  And it gives me a good spot to set this little devotional book and my current journal, so that I will remember to use them both more regularly.

Yes, Lord! I am listening!

Oh, how true this is...

Frankly, I am quite thankful that "no one knows me like God does". 

 

"For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,

And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You."

Psalm 86:5

Wow! What a promise!

So now, what else have I been up to? Well, let's see...today I actually got our taxes done!  Hooray!! I always used to dread doing our taxes back when we were still employed and in the ministry, because there were so many things to keep track of as a minister...parsonage allowance expenses, car expenses, business expenses, entertainment expenses, on and on...keep those receipts! Keep mileage records! Otherwise we would end up paying big self employment taxes...so it was always a record keeping nightmare for me!  The only time we had a professional tax group do our taxes for us we got audited, and the tax professionals did NOT come to the audit with us as promised! But we managed to prove everything we had claimed and thankfully we were not charged any extra taxes or penalties.  But that clinched it for me...I would do our taxes from then on and make sure they were done right!

  

Now I am SO thankful that we are retired and our income is so small and simple and "fixed" that I can do our taxes in less than 30 minutes on TurboTax Free edition!  Woohoo! And we still get a refund every year! Of course, it would always be nice to have more income, but hey! We are doing fine and God provides everything we need...and we are very thankful and blessed! So I am not going to rock the boat!

Speaking of rocking the boat...well, not exactly, but let's see what's going on in Still Waters Pond this week:

This Great Blue Heron stopped by for a little visit the other day...isn't he a handsome fellow?

And then we had quite a lively morning with the Canada Geese one day...

They appeared to be two rival groups, but they flew in at the same time with a lot of honking and splashing about and chasing each other around the pond. I posted a video on Facebook, but I can't seem to do it here, so you will just have to imagine it. It was quite exciting for a while until they decided to just settle down and eat and swim around the island and leave each other alone.

I snuck around to my little hiding place along the shore of the pond near the big island and watched the goose parade as they swam past me.

Aren't they beautiful?

I think some of them were aware of my presence and they kept a "stiff upper lip" and just kept swimming past me without looking to the right or the left...

The pond has a couple of islands in the middle, and the geese like to swim all the way around them in a long line...

But some lingered awhile in this little quiet cove and gave me ample opportunity to enjoy them...

"Be Still and know that I am God..." Psalm 46:10

As they rounded the island to the larger open waters they lined up and headed for the little marsh island all together:

Aren't they amazing?

There they go...

And soon they were all relaxing out on the marsh island, some swimming, some "sun bathing", some taking a nap...

They all seem quite peaceful now and there didn't appear to be any more wild frenzied activities...

And all was calm, all was bright...

Kind of like a "Silent Night", except it was still day, but at least they were at peace.

Jesus said to His disciples in John 14:27:

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

And with that, I think I will bid you a good night and head for bed.  Be at peace my friends.

Good Night.

 

Weekend Update...Lots of Stuff!

So many of you are wondering about the gator in our neighborhood after my post Friday: (CLICK HERE FOR THAT )   So, here is a picture of the gator trapper man taking away the "baby gator" that was caught on the first trap.  He will relocate him to another area, and we now have permits for two more traps since this is obviously not the big gator we saw lying in wait by the mama Sand Hill Crane.  We believe there are two adult gators still out there...so here's hoping they will be caught too.

 As of last evening, Mama Crane was still sitting safely on her nest, waiting and watching...

I will check again this morning, and if there are any further updates, I will add them here...

Meanwhile, so many of you also made comments about my exchanging shoes with my friend and my colorful socks...even some thought I might be a real "trend-setter".  Ha! That would be a first in my fashion history!  Trend-setting or even following is definitely not something I've ever done!  I just wear whatever feels comfortable to me...and rarely buy any new clothes or try to keep up with the latest styles.   However, I do enjoy wearing brightly colored socks to match my outfit with my comfy shoes...Here's what I had on my feet Friday when we went out to eat:

I guess this picture doesn't do them justice. They are bright fluorescent yellow... and here is a picture of our group that went out to eat to continue the birthday celebration for my friend, so you can almost see the top I had on too:  (it had some of this same yellow in it)  Yes, my family also remarked that my socks matched my top.  So maybe I am a trendsetter and just didn't know it. LOL.

Front row L to R: my sister Doris, my niece (her daughter) Debbie, our friend Paula the birthday girl, and my sister-in-law Peggy.

Much Later:
Okay, I started writing this post Saturday morning, and then never got back to it.  Things got busy...pleasantly so.  We woke up to a rather "chilly" morning for us...in the 40's  after the past couple of weeks being summer like weather...so, a "chilly" day means it is time for "chili"...

Our "kids" (The newlyweds) came over after their morning at the Flea Market (at Bass Champions in Salt Springs) selling "Ben's Wood Signs"

(previous photo when it wasn't as "chilly"...)

And after our "chili" lunch I helped my daughter in law finish up their income taxes and got them filed...and then I proceeded to work on our own taxes and got them filed! Woo Hoo!! That was the best pay I ever received for an hour's work!!

So now, here it is Sunday afternoon...another "chilly" day, started out in the mid 30's!  I know that doesn't sound bad to all of you who are suffering up north in a very bad winter storm. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you.  Praying you are safe and warm and high and dry.  Old man winter just doesn't want to let go, does he? 

This morning before church we took our usual walk to go check on the Sand Hill Crane Nest. I haven't heard if they caught any other alligator yet, and I can't get a good look at the nest because my normal vantage point is not available as there are people up for the weekend at their cabin, and I don't want to disturb anyone by walking too close to their yard, so I did try a different location this morning, and really couldn't see very well...but enough to know that Mama Crane is still safely sitting and waiting.  Here are the pictures I did take, which doesn't show her at all, but are pretty to look at:

Love the dogwood tree and azaleas along the pond...

There was a lovely mist over the water due to the chill in the air...

After we got home from church I looked out our back door and saw this huge Pileated Woodpecker pecking away at our dead holly tree at the end of the back porch:

Sorry for so many pictures, but they were all too good to remove...Isn't he interesting?  I love watching him peck away. That tree needs to come down, but the woodpeckers all love it so much I hate to remove it.  The only problem is it is very close to our power line and when it falls it will probably disconnect our power from the house...so...one of these days it has to be removed carefully...

Now it is Sunday afternoon...time to go fix supper...after spending some time sitting out on the porch reading and listening to/watching the birds come to and fro...I didn't get anymore pictures (you are probably saying "Thank Goodness!), but it was such a delightful afternoon I truly didn't want to come back inside.  So thankful that it warmed up to about 70 or so and was sunny and beautiful.  I know many of you would love to trade places with me. Come on down!  We'll open up the "Bear Crossing B&B" Bedroom for you...

It's small and cozy and we could have such fun!

Okay, hubby says it's time for me to stop writing and think about supper...I don't think we want to eat more chili for various reasons, so I need to go figure this out.

Verses for the day:  Selections from Psalm 103.  "A Psalm of Unmixed Praise"

Psalm 103

1.  "Bless the Lord, O my soul;

And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

2.  Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all His benefits;

3.  Who forgives all your iniquities,

Who heals all your diseases,

4.  Who redeems your life from destruction,

Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

5.  Who satisfies your mouth with good things,

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."

22.  "Bless the Lord, all His works,

in all places of His dominion,

Bless the Lord, O my soul!"

Amen.

Have a blessed and restful, peaceful day, dear friends.